Seeking registration of FIR against the film’s director, producers, actors and relevant employees
A constitutional petition has been filed in a court in Karachi against Indian film Dhurandhar for unauthorized use of images of late Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) flag and party footage in the trailer. The petition also accuses the film of portraying the PPP as supporting terrorists.
The petition was filed by PPP activist Muhammad Amir in the District and Sessions Court (South) in Karachi. It is seeking an FIR against the film’s director, producers, actors and other relevant employees involved in making and promoting the film.
The petition names director Aditya Dhar, producers Lokesh Dhar and Jyoti Kishore Deshpande and actors Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Beni. It also lists cinematographer Vikash Nolcha, editor Shiv Kumar V Panicker and other unnamed crew members as proposed accused.
According to the petition, the official trailer contains pictures of the late former prime minister and PPP pictures without legal permission. It claims that the film portrays the PPP as sympathetic to terrorists and labels Karachi’s Lyari area as a “terrorist war zone”, which the petitioner claims is defamatory, misleading and damaging to Pakistan’s reputation.
The petitioner claims that the trailer promotes hatred, contempt and incitement against the PPP, its leadership and supporters. He cites sections 499, 500, 502, 504, 505, 153-A and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deal with defamation, criminal intimidation, provocation to cause riots and promoting enmity between groups.
Amir said he had earlier lodged a written complaint with the Darakhshan police station SHO, but the police did not register a case or initiate legal action, prompting him to petition the court instead.
The petition requests that the court order the police to immediately register an FIR, direct the SSP South to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation and ensure that all responsible persons are named in the investigation regarding the film.
